“Sánchez said the US invasion of Iraq in 2003 had failed to achieve its goals and instead made life worse for ordinary people.”

“A majority of Spaniards, 53.2%, back Sánchez's decision not to allow the US to use the Rota naval base and the Morón air base for strikes against Iran, a poll published earlier this month in the daily newspaper El País showed.”

“Last week, his government approved a sweeping package worth €5 billion to cushion the economic impact of the war.”

“A branch of Al-Qaeda claimed responsibility for the attacks and called for the withdrawal of Spanish forces from Iraq.”

“Support for that war by the conservative Popular Party (PP) in power at the time, which sent troops to Iraq, was widely unpopular and sparked mass protests.”

“Sánchez said the US invasion of Iraq in 2003 had failed to achieve its goals and instead forced ordinary people to face adversity, saying it led to a sharp increase in fuel and grocery prices, a migration crisis and jihadist attacks in Europe.”

“Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez warned on Wednesday that the Iran war represents a 'far worse' scenario than the 2003 invasion of Iraq.”

“The socialist prime minister has refused Washington's requests to use Madrid's military bases to launch strikes against Iran.”

“He warned that the Iran war could have a similar economic impact on millions.”

“Some analysts say it paved the way for the socialist PSOE party’s surprise win in March 2004, days after deadly jihadist bombings hit commuter trains connecting Madrid and nearby Alcalá de Henares in and around the Atocha train station in the Spanish capital.”

“The government's position is widely shared by people across Spain, with 68% saying they were opposed to the war in a poll conducted by 40db.”